There aren’t many things that will take me out of the city during rush hour. Pizza, though, will.
Sure, we have pizza a’plenty within city limits, but I want to try slices from here, there and everywhere. After my recent trip to Bridgeville, I can knock slices from Cucina Bella off my list.
If you’re lucky enough to be dining at Cucina Bella during one of those rare, perfect Pittsburgh days, pick a table under one of the large red umbrellas on the patio. The quiet neighborhood (and sometimes noisy street) will provide a terrific backdrop for your lunch or dinner. If the sun isn’t shining, you’ll still feel right at home in the cozy, rustic dining room. There are spaces great for large parties, so feel free to bring your friends.
A few relics from the building’s former lives act as decor, which creates an interesting vibe inside. It was a neighborhood coffee shop and, before that, a neighborhood store. It now stands out — coated in bright-red paint against the green trees and more subdued residential homes — and serves delightful cuisine to both locals and those crazy city folks who have ventured their way.
Italian standards dot the menu. Classics such as the antipasto and the caprese salad are available, but I encourage you to branch out and tackle some of the more interesting dishes offered. Definitely, though, get the Le Joanna (meatballs) as an appetizer. Simple in preparation, they’re moist, flavorful and sharable. And how cute is it that the recipe is from the owner’s mother? Collective awwwww.
I also would suggest all of the appetizers that are drizzled with local honey. Honey, an underrated enhancement to sweet and savory dishes, packs a punch on the Calabrian Figs, which are stuffed with gorgonzola cheese and chopped pecans. The Pomo Crostini, also a gorgonzola-topped dish, was paired with thin slices of tart green apples and polished off with a drizzle of that local honey, giving the starter a bit of sweetness. The thick slices of Italian bread were slightly toasted, which gave the perfect crunch as we devoured the generous portion.
We bypassed the salads and paninis, although all the offerings looked delicious. Any of the options would be the perfect accompaniment to an alfresco lunch.
Instead, we dove right into the carb goodness that is the calzone. The Catanzaro was our choice. A mix of mozzarella, ricotta and parmigianio-Reggiano cheeses was paired with pepperoni, basil and San Marzano tomatoes and then folded into a light dough and cooked until golden brown. Just a tinge of spice came through from the pepperoni, and the sweet, acidic flavor of the high-quality tomatoes was tasted in every bite.
We couldn’t decide on just one pizza: There are 16 on the menu. So we got one red pizza and one white. The Joe T was, by far, one of the highlights of the meal. The same light dough used on the calzone was present for the pie. Soft yet crusty, the round pizza was topped with thin slices of prosciutto, sweet figs and shredded fresh basil. Tangy balsamic vinegar was drizzled over the entire pizza, creating a nice combination of flavors.
For our red selection, we went with the 4 Stagioni. Quadrants of the pie were topped with various fresh ingredients. In the first corner, we had portabello mushrooms, while the neighboring slices had prosciutto, green olives and artichokes, respectively. While each section of pie had its own distinctive taste, the San Marzano tomatoes and fresh mozzarella helped the pie keep a much-needed consistency as you went round robin, trying each kind.
Obviously, we weren’t leaving without dessert. Not when Limoncella is on the menu and definitely not when that Limoncella is served in a champagne flute. The creamy yet tart dessert was the perfect way to polish off a satisfying meal in the suburban sunshine. Other tasty after-dinner treats include the chocolate and peanut butter confection, Dream Bomba, a frozen dessert just begging to be inhaled, and the Strawberries & Carmel, another frozen treat with juicy strawberries, thick, rich caramel sauce and crunchy peanuts.
Arm yourself with a bottle or two of your favorite wine (it’s BYOB), and head to Cucina Bella. It will be worth the drive.
Amanda McFadden is one of the food-savvy ladies of eatPGH.com who contribute a weekly Dining Out column to the Tribune-Review.